Nightlife hubs in Paris change from year to year. If last year was all about SoPi, the south of Pigalle, the new epicenter is Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, right smack in the middle of the city.
As you stroll down the street, you might miss one of the best bars in the neighborhood, and even in town. The façade is unassuming, to say the least: it actually looks like a shuttered store, waiting for a courageous soul to renew the lease. Courageous is exactly what Romain Le Mouellic and Sullivan Doh are, as they embark on a quest to reintroduce traditional French spirits to a crowd of increasingly discerning drinkers.
At Le Syndicat, the cocktails they serve put the blue, white and red in the spotlight. Pastis, the classic drink of the South, steps out of the pétanque field and becomes a key ingredient in complex concoctions that taste totally modern. Even for those who know their spirits, there is surely a name or two to be discovered in their extensive selection.
From those looking for rich and smoky to sippers who prefer fresh and leafy, there is something for everyone on Le Syndicat’s cocktail menu. The French are proud of many things, and we’ll gladly add spiritueux to the list. Move over, cosmopolitan – les français sont de retour.
